The Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) is now gearing for the influx of passengers that are expected to reach from 50,000 to 75,000 a day in time for the Holy Week.
Aisa Usop, manager of DCOTT, on Wednesday said her office is preparing for a large number of passengers that will troop the terminal during the Holy Week based on their experience.
She said the terminal accomodates an average of 700 to 800 bus trips a day or an equivalent of 35,000 to 40,000 passengers a day on regular days, while during Holy Week, bus trips can reach from 1,000 to 1,500 a day which is equivalent to 50,000 to 75,000 passengers a day.
“In terms of preparations sa DCOTT, because we are expecting the influx of passengers kay ang March is very unique kay daghan kaayo ug activities such as Araw ng Dabaw, Ramadan, Holy Week and DAVRAA. We are expecting the influx of passengers sa atoang terminal,” Usop said during the joint AFP-PNP Press Corps and I-Speak media forums at The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday.
Usop said her office already coordinated with the Task Force Davao, police, and other men in uniform for the implementation of security at DCOTT.
“Last Friday nagpatawag ug meeting ang Public Safety and Security Office with regards to the safety and security coordination meeting for the Holy Week. DCOTT participated in that meeting because we know that DCOTT is the biggest terminal in Mindanao with routes from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao,” she said.
With regards to the roadworthiness of the buses, Usop said DCOTT already coordinated with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board 11 (LTFRB 11) and Land Transportation Office 11 (LTO 11).
“With regards to the readiness of the bus operators, we already informed the Southern Mindanao Bus Operators for them to be ready. Kung puwede mangayo na sila ug advance special permit alang atong mga ruta nga nahibal-an nila nga daghan gyud ang musakay or mubiyahe,” Usop said.
She also said that for the first time the small bus operators have declared that they will not operate this Holy Friday. Only big bus companies such as Rural Transit (Davao City-Cagayan de Oro City), Mindanao Star (Davao City-General Santos City, Cotabato City), and Bachelor Express (Davao City to Butuan City) will travel.
“But ang atoang Holy Thursday limited lang nga buses ang mubiyahe. Buot ipasabot, magdepende sa pasahero ang pagbiyahe sa atoang mga bus. That is why I am appealing to the passengers na Wednesday na musakay ug dili na muhulat ug Thursday kay what if naay bus mubiyahe pero ang pasahero 5 lang kabuok basin dili mudayon ang bus ug biyahe,” Usop said.
Usop also requested the coordination and cooperation of other agencies especially men in uniform to help control the crowd since the entrance of DCOTT is undergoing rehabilitation.
DCOTT opened a temporary entrance beside Mr. Donut shop and also transferred the baggage x-ray machine as well as the walkthrough machine to a bigger space.
